(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Sharjah has crossed another milestone on the road to excellence. The nomination of the emirate as the "Capital of Arab Tourism for Year 2015" by the Arab Council of Tourism Ministers last week in Cairo reaffirms Sharjah's emergence as the home of Arab and Islamic culture and civilisation and the vision that has shaped it over the past few years and decades.
Since His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, took the helm, the emirate has been on a march to cultural renaissance and rediscovery of the glory of Arab and Islamic civilisation.
This has proceeded alongside the impressive development and progress the emirate has registered in all other areas - from emerging as the region's educational hub to becoming an economic power house. Sharjah is today home to nearly half of the UAE's manufacturing sector, producing one of the largest and most successful and sustainable development experiences in the region. The emirate is also home to some of the greatest museums, art galleries and cultural centres in the Middle East.
"All this wouldn't have been possible without the vision and leadership of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi," Mohamed Ali Al Noman, chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, or SCTDA, told Khaleej Times in an interview.
"It's his vision and constant efforts that have contributed to the emirate's spectacular success on all fronts and earned us this unique honour."
Al Noman describes the nomination of Sharjah as the "Capital of Arab Tourism", beating cities such as Beirut and Taif as "another feather in the cap for the emirate" and expects a huge boost for its tourism sector and economy.
"The rare accolade recognises what Sharjah and the UAE have achieved in tourism sector," he said. The SCTDA chairman draws attention to the fact that the emirate was declared the "Capital of Arab Culture" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 1998 and the "Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014" by cultural ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states.
Sharjah's nomination was announced by Jordan's Tourism Minister Nayef Al Fayez who presided over the 15th session of the Arab Council of Tourism Ministers in the Egyptian capital last week. In a statement, Al Fayez said that the Arab tourism body decided to name Sharjah as the "Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015". The honour went to the Iraqi city of Erbil for 2014.
"Sharjah has been chosen according to specific bases and criteria, especially its celebration of Arab and Islamic culture and heritage," he said. Al Noman argues that Sharjah meets all the required international standards. "With its rich cultural heritage and numerous festivals and events, Sharjah offers an authentic experience to visitors from across the world. This is what separates us from the rest."
The SCTDA chairman hopes the Arab tourism council nomination will draw further international attention and tourists to Sharjah, creating more avenues and economic opportunities for everyone.
"This honour also imposes greater responsibility on both public and private players of Sharjah's tourism sector and hospitality industry. It should encourage us to excel further and work even harder to enhance the emirate's profile on the global tourism map," he added.
"Sharjah receives more than 1.5 million tourists annually and with the emirate constantly investing in its tourism infrastructure, development projects and logistics, visitor numbers are set to grow in years to come," said Al Noman while drawing attention to major tourism projects such as the Kalba ecotourism project and Chedi Khor Fakkan luxury resort unveiled recently.
The Kalba ecotourism project, which will transform the East Coast while protecting the ecology and mangroves of Kalba, is the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Many more such projects are in the pipeline.
"Another landmark project on which work has been going on is the Heart of Sharjah initiative. When completed, it would change the look of the creek and old areas of Sharjah including heritage areas and the Al Hisn Fort," Al Noman said.
"Sharjah has registered impressive growth in the hospitality sector over the past few years. The emirate is today home to 46 hotels and 55 hotel apartments with a total of more than 9,000 rooms. Of course, we still have a long way to go before we can meet the growing demand," he added.
The Sharjah International Airport, which was the first airport and gateway to the region when it was founded in 1932, has also been growing fast keeping pace with the rest of the tourism sector in the emirate and the country. Air Arabia, the region's most popular low-cost airline, has now connected the emirate to most of the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
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